Peruvian Presidential Election: Candidates & Key Issues
Explore the profiles of Peru's presidential candidates and the critical issues shaping the upcoming election as voters head to the polls.
As Peru prepares for its highly anticipated presidential election on Sunday, voters are faced with a diverse slate of candidates vying to lead the nation. The election comes at a crucial time for the Andean country, which has been grappling with a severe economic downturn, the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and deep political divisions.
To help voters make an informed decision, let's take a closer look at the key contenders and the major issues driving the campaign.
{{IMAGE_PLACEHOLDER}}Pedro Castillo, a former schoolteacher and union leader, has emerged as a surprise frontrunner. Representing the left-wing party Free Peru, Castillo has captured the imagination of many Peruvians with his promises to redistribute wealth, renegotiate mining contracts, and overhaul the country's constitution.
In contrast, Keiko Fujimori, the daughter of former President Alberto Fujimori, is running on a more conservative platform. As the leader of the Popular Force party, she has vowed to maintain the free-market economic model and take a tough stance on crime and corruption.
{{IMAGE_PLACEHOLDER}}Other prominent candidates include Hernando de Soto, a renowned economist who has proposed sweeping market-oriented reforms, and Yonhy Lescano, a centrist congressman who has campaigned on a platform of strengthening democratic institutions.
The key issues shaping the election include the economy, with voters concerned about high unemployment, inflation, and the impact of the pandemic; corruption, which has long plagued Peruvian politics; and social inequality, as the country grapples with stark disparities in wealth and access to healthcare and education.
{{IMAGE_PLACEHOLDER}}As Peruvians head to the polls, the outcome of this election will have far-reaching implications for the country's future. Regardless of who emerges victorious, the new president will face the daunting task of uniting a deeply divided nation and charting a path forward amidst a complex set of challenges.
Source: Al Jazeera
